Image recording device

Abstract

An image recording device including a feeder and a recorder with dot forming elements aligned in a predetermined direction at intervals of a predetermined pitch. When determining that a first whole length of an image group to be printed in the predetermined direction is more than a second whole length of the dot forming elements in the predetermined direction, the image recording device records the image group with the recorder while feeding a recording medium with the feeder by a first feed distance more than the predetermined pitch each printing operation to be repeated. When determining that the first whole length is equal to or less than the second whole length, the image recording device records the image group with the recorder while feeding the recording medium with the feeder by a second feed distance equal to or less than the predetermined pitch each printing operation to be repeated.

1. An image recording device comprising:
 a feeder configured to feed a recording medium in a predetermined direction; 
 a recorder comprising a plurality of dot forming elements aligned in the predetermined direction at intervals of a predetermined pitch, the recorder being configured to record images by forming dots, with the dot forming elements, at intervals of a distance shorter than the predetermined pitch in the predetermined direction on the recording medium fed by the feeder; 
 a first identifying unit configured to identify, as an image group, at least one image to be recorded between blank areas in the predetermined direction; 
 a determining unit configured to determine whether a first whole length of the image group identified by the first identifying unit in the predetermined direction is equal to or less than a second whole length of the dot forming elements in the predetermined direction; 
 a first controller configured to, when the determining unit determines that the first whole length is not equal to or less than the second whole length, repeat a first feed control and a first record control so as to record the image group, the first controller controlling, in the first feed control, the feeder to feed the recording medium by a first feed distance more than the predetermined pitch, the first controller controlling, in the first record control, the recorder to record a part of the image group with dot forming elements selected such that any adjacent two dots of the image group in the predetermined direction are recorded with respective different dot forming elements; and 
 a second controller configured to, when the determining unit determines that the first whole length is equal to or less than the second whole length, repeat a second feed control and a second record control so as to record the image group, the second controller controlling, in the second feed control, the feeder to feed the recording medium by a second feed distance equal to or less than the predetermined pitch, the second controller controlling, in the second record control, the recorder to record a part of the image group such that any adjacent two dots of the image group in the predetermined direction are permitted to be recorded with an identical dot forming element. 
 
     
     
       2. The image recording device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second identifying unit configured to identify, as a valid blank area, a blank area extending longer than a predetermined length in the predetermined direction,
 wherein the first identifying unit is configured to identify, as the image group, at least one image to be recorded between an upstream valid blank area and a downstream valid blank area, which are identified by the second identifying unit, in the predetermined direction. 
 
     
     
       3. The image recording device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the recording unit is configured to be reciprocated along a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction and parallel to the recording medium. 
 
     
     
       4. The image recording device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein each of the dot forming elements comprises a nozzle configured to discharge ink onto the recording medium. 
 
     
     
       5. An image recording device comprising:
 a feeder configured to feed a recording medium in a predetermined direction; 
 a recorder comprising a plurality of dot forming elements aligned in the predetermined direction at intervals of a predetermined pitch, the recorder being configured to record images by forming dots, with the dot forming elements, at intervals of a distance shorter than the predetermined pitch in the predetermined direction on the recording medium fed by the feeder; 
 a first identifying unit configured to identify, as an image group, at least one image to be recorded between blank areas in the predetermined direction; 
 a determining unit configured to determine whether a sum of a first whole length of the image group identified by the first identifying unit in the predetermined direction and a third whole length of a downstream one of the blank areas in the predetermined direction is equal to or less than a second whole length of the dot forming elements in the predetermined direction; 
 a first controller configured to, when the determining unit determines that the sum of the first whole length and the third whole length is not equal to or less than the second whole length, repeat a first feed control and a first record control so as to record the image group, the first controller controlling, in the first feed control, the feeder to feed the recording medium by a first feed distance more than the predetermined pitch, the first controller controlling, in the first record control, the recorder to record a part of the image group with dot forming elements selected such that any adjacent two dots of the image group in the predetermined direction are recorded with respective different dot forming elements; and 
 a second controller configured to, when the determining unit determines that the sum of the first whole length and the third whole length is equal to or less than the second whole length, repeat a second feed control and a second record control so as to record the image group, the second controller controlling, in the second feed control, the feeder to feed the recording medium by a second feed distance equal to or less than the predetermined pitch, the second controller controlling, in the second record control, the recorder to record a part of the image group such that any adjacent two dots of the image group in the predetermined direction are permitted to be recorded with an identical dot forming element. 
 
     
     
       6. The image recording device according to  claim 5 , further comprising a second identifying unit configured to identify, as a valid blank area, a blank area extending longer than a predetermined length in the predetermined direction,
 wherein the first identifying unit is configured to identify, as the image group, at least one image to be recorded between an upstream valid blank area and a downstream valid blank area, which are identified by the second identifying unit, in the predetermined direction. 
 
     
     
       7. The image recording device according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the recording unit is configured to be reciprocated along a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction and parallel to the recording medium. 
 
     
     
       8. The image recording device according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein each of the dot forming elements comprises a nozzle configured to discharge ink onto the recording medium. 
 
     
     
       9. An image recording device comprising:
 a feeder configured to feed a recording medium in a predetermined direction; 
 a recorder comprising a plurality of dot forming elements aligned in the predetermined direction at intervals of a predetermined pitch, the recorder being configured to record images by forming dots, with the dot forming elements, at intervals of a distance shorter than the predetermined pitch in the predetermined direction on the recording medium fed by the feeder; 
 a first identifying unit configured to identify, as an image group, at least one image to be recorded between blank areas in the predetermined direction; 
 a determining unit configured to determine whether a first whole length of the image group identified by the first identifying unit in the predetermined direction satisfies a condition with respect to a second whole length of the dot forming elements in the predetermined direction; 
 a first controller configured to, when the determining unit determines that the first whole length does not satisfy the condition with respect to the second whole length, repeat a first feed control and a first record control so as to record the image group, the first controller controlling, in the first feed control, the feeder to feed the recording medium by a first feed distance more than the predetermined pitch, the first controller controlling, in the first record control, the recorder to record a part of the image group with dot forming elements selected such that any adjacent two dots of the image group in the predetermined direction are recorded with respective different dot forming elements; and 
 a second controller configured to, when the determining unit determines that the first whole length does not satisfy the condition with respect to the second whole length, repeat a second feed control and a second record control so as to record the image group, the second controller controlling, in the second feed control, the feeder to feed the recording medium by a second feed distance equal to or less than the predetermined pitch, the second controller controlling, in the second record control, the recorder to record a part of the image group such that any adjacent two dots of the image group in the predetermined direction are permitted to be recorded with an identical dot forming element.